A Virtual Learning Environment to enable CPD for Orthopaedic Surgeons across Europe

Abstract

The Virtual Orthopaedic University (VOU) is an EU-funded project which has developed a learning environment which links explicit pedagogical approaches to a set of specialised tools and resources, which will enable orthopaedic surgeons to facilitate the transfer of specialised expertise and knowledge in Image Guided Orthopaedic Surgery (IGOS) techniques. It includes the development of a specific surgical course model for creating IGOS surgery multimedia courses, as well as the population and use of a Virtual observatory for collecting and describing different IGOS interventions. In addition material from the Virtual Observatory is being used in conjunction with the Dynamic Review Journal, as the basis for real life case discussions using the using the communication tools available in the learning environment. The development of VOU is underpinned by a pedagogical approach built on current education research in terms of learning being situated and authentic; with learners adopting an active and constructive approach. An aim of the project is to maximise the relationship between different pedagogical approaches, tools and resources in a novel learning environment, while providing support for the decision making using a toolkit approach. The Virtual Orthopaedic University architecture can be used in a variety of different ways to support different types and levels of users and different syllabi. This paper describes the rationale behind the development of the system, the overall architecture, and the relationship between the architecture and the adopted pedagogical strategy. This paper will describe the pedagogical strategy which underpins the VOU learning environment. It is based on the premise that surgeons have specialised needs in terms of the requirements of a learning environment. Specifically there is a need to analyse and build on an understanding of the: - unique nature of the orthopaedic surgical knowledge and in particular the relationship between theoretical and pragmatic surgical concepts, - rigour and validation requirements of orthopaedic surgery knowledge and the role and importance of apprenticeship as a means of ensuring standardisation and conformity.

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ORCID for Gary Wills: orcid.org/0000-0001-5771-4088

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